About the NIV Bible Translation

About the NIV Bible Translation

Decades after the vision was cast, the New International Version (NIV) has become one of the most widely read Bible translation in contemporary English. That’s because the NIV delivers the very best combination of accuracy and readability. It’s true to God’s Word and true to the reader.

Getting the Words Right

Getting the words right means being true to the original Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic of the Bible. But it also means being true to the reader — capturing the Bible’s original meaning in natural, everyday English.

That’s what sets the NIV Bible apart. It doesn’t sacrifice precision for clarity or the other way around. It delivers both, all in a Bible translation you’ll love to read.

The NIV Is…

Accurate

The NIV translators are united by their conviction that the Bible is God’s inspired Word. That, along with their years of studying biblical languages, helps them to capture subtle nuances and the depth of meaning in the Bible. (More)

Clear

If the first recipients understood God’s Word when they heard it, so should you. That’s the driving force behind the NIV’s commitment to clarity. The Bible should be every bit as clear to you as it was to its original audience. (More)

Beautiful

Bible reading isn’t just a solo exercise; it’s meant to be a shared experience. That’s why the NIV translators prioritize literary beauty, resulting in a Bible translation that’s suitable for public reading and use in churches. (More)

Trustworthy

The NIV is translated by an independent, self-governing team of Bible scholars. No publisher, commercial or otherwise (not even us!), can tell them how to translate God’s Word. The translators come from dozens of denominations and churches, and they can only make changes to the text if 70% of the committee agrees — safeguarding against theological bias. (More)

There are plenty of things to wrestle with in the Bible.

Your translation shouldn’t be one of them.

The vision for the NIV Bible started with one man, but soon it united the evangelical church.

The NIV Is…

There’s a reason the NIV is the most widely used contemporary English Bible. Find out what pastors, scholars, and ministry leaders are saying.

The NIV will now continue to be at the forefront of modern English Bibles as the best translation for both public and private use. It combines accuracy and readability better than any other translation.

Larry Hart

Professor of Theology / Oral Roberts University

The scholarship that produced this version is excellent, both in text and translation decisions. For this, believers everywhere can and should thank God for the NIV, because it is what it purports to be: the eternal word of God in the language of English-speaking people today.

Daniel B. Wallace

Professor of New Testament Studies / Dallas Theological Seminary

In my estimation, the NIV provides the best translation to the original text while using a language style that is easier for contemporary folks to understand. I have started using the new NIV with the same confidence I have had all these years. I believe with all my heart that this translation will fill the lives of people today with great joy.

Randy Frazee

Senior Minister / Oak Hills Church, San Antonio

This is an exceptional translation, designed to be read and heard in an idiom that we can understand.

Scot McKnight

Professor of New Testament / Northern Seminary

The New International Version follows in the same tradition as the King James Version, although it is tailor-made for the way English is spoken around the world today. The NIV is the most popular translation today because it remains faithful to the original Scriptures while being easy for people to understand.

Charles Stanley

Senior Pastor / First Baptist Church in Atlanta

The updated NIV will be my next Bible of choice. Its balanced approach to translation that values equally fidelity to the languages and meaning of the original texts is just what we need.

Mark Young

President / Denver Seminary

The NIV is a gift to the church. Its clear, readable English is accurate to the original languages, communicating the Bible’s rich message in a way that will reach people of all ages, education, and spiritual maturity.

Tremper Longman III

Professor of Biblica Studies / Westmont College

As a pastor who is passionate about communicating the Gospel, I’m thankful for the NIV and how the Committee on Bible Translation carefully reviews and updates the translation to best reflect the language of this generation.

Craig Groeshel

Pastor / LifeChurch.TV

The NIV communicates the message of the original authors of Scripture better than any translation I’m aware of. This is THE translation for our generation.

Andy Stanley

Founder / North Point Ministries

I enjoy reading and preaching from the NIV here in our ministry in New York City. After more than 25 years, it continues to be my favorite version of God’s Word.

Jim Cymbala

Pastor / Brooklyn Tabernacle

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